Projects

When Irrigation Season Ends

Once the irrigation season ends, typically around mid-October, District crews begin the maintenance of the canal system for the upcoming irrigation season. This work includes cleaning and repairing the canals, roadways, and equipment; installing new head gates and headwalls; along with installation of canal lining and conversion from an open canal to enclosed piping.

Canal lining and piping are major elements of the District’s Enhanced Water Conservation Program which began in 2015 and helps the District meet its goal of providing clean, reliable irrigation water to its customers, while improving environmental concerns in the area.

Enhanced Water Conservation Program

In 2015, SMID began its Enhanced Water Conservation Program (EWCP) by completing a Feasibility Study to evaluate water conservation measures and infrastructure upgrades. This work includes piping SMID canals and the Yakima Ridge tunnel; canal lining; and constructing automated flow control facilities with instrumentation and telemetry. The infrastructure upgrades and conservation efforts will improve water delivery efficiency and increase reliability for SMID customers. At the same time, the planned improvements will benefit the environment through decreased water diversions, improvements in water quality and temperature, and improved instream flows in the Yakima River. To fund these upgrades, SMID plans to leverage a portion of its conserved water savings to generate the needed revenue, pursue grants from public funding sources, and seek other funding opportunities.

Download the program brochure

Establishing a single river diversion point for all three SMID canals. The District received approval from the Department of Ecology to utilize the Pomona Diversion for all three canals with certain limitations. SMID is currently evaluating utilizing the Fowler Ditch as another point of diversion for the Hubbard Canal. The District is also planning to utilize the Roza Wasteway pump station as a back-up source for the Selah-Moxee Canal in case of an emergency.
Piping the lower Selah-Moxee Canal. Phase I of SMID’s EWCP calls for piping 21,492 linear feet (4.07 miles) of earthen ditch of the lower Selah-Moxee Canal. This area serves 1,458 acres of land. Beginning in 2019, SMID has installed over 4,000 feet of pipe in the lower portions of the Selah-Moxee Canal. The next segment will include piping over 4,300 linear feet with 30-inch PVC pipe.
Piping the Lower Moxee Canal. Phase II of the EWCP calls for piping 8,707 linear feet (1.65 miles) of the lower portions of the Moxee Canal. A portion of the Moxee Canal is already piped, and this project is an expansion of that project. In 2020, SMID installed approximately 2,500 linear feet of 30-inch PVC pipe to begin this project. The next segment of Phase II will include installing 6,000 linear feet of pipe near Mieras and Morrier Roads.
Pipe and Line the upper portions of the Selah-Moxee Canal. SMID will line the upper 4.7 miles of the Selah-Moxee Canal. To improve reliability, this project will be paired with piping a portion of the canal that travels under the Yakima Ridge via a tunnel. Currently, debris that falls inside the tunnel can damage SMID infrastructure and cause service interruptions. In the fall of 2021, SMID will begin installing liner material in the upper portions of the Selah-Moxee Canal in East Selah.

Planning

Administrative Office and Shop Facilities Project

Selah-Moxee Irrigation District (SMID or District) is making a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for professional architectural and engineering services for a site plan and SMID administrative office/shop facilities. View attachment below.
SMID Office-Shop RFQ

Selah-Moxee Canal- tunnel Entrance Pipe TEP Project

Sealed bids will be received by 5:00pm, September 22, 2025 at Selah-Moxee Irrigation District office.
Sealed Bid Proposal for Materials
Canal Tunnel Piping Civil Plans